Sunday 29th July was the last day of the Oyster Festival, and the parting gift of the organisers was the famous Mud Tug on Long Beach.
Hundreds of people lined the shore on a sunny evening, and were encouraged to cheer on the teams by Bob Le-Roy who once again found a microphone and a captive audience.
Competition was fiercely contested by teams from Waterfront Football, Whitstable Lifeboat, The Savoy, Waterfront Bar, Maypole Marques, Oyster Eaters & Vestas.
The tide was not playing ball, and the start was delayed till enough mud was exposed. Very little cheating went on this year under the watchful eye of the referee, unfortunately one of his decisions was not greeted too well by one of the teams who thought he had signaled a win by raising his hand and promptly stopped pulling. A restart was ordered.
With no entry from an all women's team, this reporter was left disappointed. I hope next year the Whitstable belly dancers put forward a team.
The final was between Vestas and Waterfront Football. Vestas showed more skill in the mud and took the cup and the beer in good style.
Well done to all the teams that took part.
If you and a group of friends would like to give the town a laugh next yea, find some old footwear and enter the Whitstable Mud Tug 2007.
Contact WOFA for information to sign up or offer your services for next years Oyster Festival. Without the towns support, how can we make this a town event?
